The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1887-03-19

first il " worked 10 charm Az LocAPui'
tie wafer was so clear that one could see
pin on the bottom At depth Of ~ feet The
lake sometimes varies in its height. II fell
from 10 feet line in 1871, to d feet inches
In 1872, When they first began pumping In
to the lake the sewage soiled the water as
far out rs the crib,
THE north branch was intended TO be
c'eansed by the Fullerton Avenue sonduit,
by pumping water through 1t into the lake
near Lincoln Park. This was found to inter
fere with the water works at the crib. The
wheels were reversed and pumped the north
branch into the south branch, thus forcing
both branches together with the outflow OF
the south fork into the canal Thus II may
be seen that the deep cut which was origin
ally intended TO carry of the sewage OF
the south branch only is now burdened with
the entire sewerage of the city, including the
stock yards The opening Of the Ogden \
Wentworth ditch has added its volume to
the canal. From the foregoing 1t may be
seen that the deep cut was not failure, as
frequently stated, but that about four times
more has been added than was originally
intended.
"The flow was made out to the country by
$4,000 gallons per xinute Of lake water. In
my report TO the canal commissioners in
1879, | suggested plan Of relief which the
secretary of the state board approved Of.
lie copied it. thought it then mistake
to destroy the old by draulic works at Bridge
port. These works should be restored. |
recommended two dredges to work oil the
season. Heretofore have favored the deep
cut as the outlet for Chicago's sewerage, but
it is insufficient. Five millions Of dollars
have been expended upon it.
"The work should be under only one board
Of management, and Chicago having the
greater interest should control it. Two
boards would disagree. When | was super
intendent Of the canal the Chicago board
complained because did not do more, and
when they didnt pump enough we complain
ed. The flow should be kept brisk and uni
form so as to clear away the mud. No mud
has been taken out Of the canal on that level
since July last. A Hat was sunk IL hours
in that water some years ago. and when it
came up everything about it was covered
with deposit Of half and inch Of mud. The
channel is too narrow and level TO increase
the flow Of water. There was question
once about raising the the gates at Lockport
between Mayor Colvin and myself A pub.
lie meeting was held at Joliet, and the sub
ject debated. suggested q committee to
test whether an increased flow of water
could te obtained on that level by raising
the gates at Lockport. Col. r. b. Mason
and E. s. Chasborough were selected, two
distinguished men. They opened the gates
and found | was right. The water came no
faster, save for little time-back towards
the Sag" In Mayor Harrison's time the
same question came up and was settled in
the same way. To increase the velocity you
must raise the head. If Chicago proposes
to raise the head to get greater discharge
Of water, my advice is to abandon the canal
for that purpose and use the bed of the
Des PLANES river, but of course give us am
pie protection for our low lands. In regard
to turning the sewage into the canal at
Channahon, we have great interest at stake.
The Amendment of the Kankakee feeder is a
serious matter, and we must protest against
its being done"
In behalf Of the audience the president
thanked Mr.. Thomas and then introduced
C. Z. Cooley, civil engineer of Chicago, who
said substantially:
Gentlemen | did not come here to talk
but to attend to my duties. have not had
occasion to look up the sanitary features of
this subject l came to see about the dam.
age this improvement would be to bottom
lands and to ascertain the probable highest
flow of the water. | have been pleased to
hear Mr.. Thomas remarks, for he has ably
covered many points l should have touched
upon. Chicago has 900,0 900 people with its
suburbs fifteen miles up and down the lake
and for ten miles back. The sewage is in.
tolerable. If it increases without relief as
it has done, we shall die of its poisons. We
expect in 80 years to have population Of
2, 100000. There are three ways Of getting
rid of the vast amount Of sewage of our
city One is to dump it in the lake south
ward and get our water supply 20 or 30
miles northward another is to drain it to
the sand hills of Indiana the third is to run
it into the Illinois river. 1t Is likely we
may have to do both in 80 years. To get
the sewage to Indiana will cost Sj0,000,-
900. Our water supply from the north and
dumping sewerage into the lake will cost
SAC, 100000 To run down the Illinois river
valley will cost S20,OOO,OOO. This last is the
best way of all. Today you get the sewage
of seven hundred thousand people. You can